A song about the 4th Virginia, a brigade that fought from the first battle of the Civil War ("War of Southern Secession / “War of Northern Aggression”) until the last. The war started in Wilmer McLean's front yard, and ended in his parlor.

All RT's, except for a bit of harp.



Soundclick:

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12373502&q=hi&newref=1


YouTube:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6WVHjmqL8




Wilmer's Farm

©2013 Robert Randall Burke


I left Johnnie at Manassas
Where the Yankees cut him down
He just lay there starin' at the sky
Never made a sound
I promised his Mama
I'd keep him safe from harm
Then I left my best friend
On Wilmer's farm.

Jubal fell at Chancellorsville
When we had 'em on the run
Turned eighteen the day before
His life had just begun
I tried my best to comfort him
Just kept askin' me
“Why... the old men send the young men out to die.”

The glory has all faded
The Cause has lost it's charm
And hell begins and ends
On Wilmer's Farm

The band was playin' Dixie
When we all marched off to war
Nobody could ever know
The hell that was in store
The girls were all cheerin'
The old men filled with pride
But none were there
The day that Dixie died.


God save the 4th Virginia
God save Jackson too
God save the boys
Who never made it through
God save the boys
Who never made it through











Title: Wilmer's Farm
File:Wilmer's Farm.SGU
Key=C , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=3:57
No intro. 80 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 80. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _MANPMGA.STY (PopCountry Ballad Mandolin[75RS])

RealTracks in style: 1827:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1839:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 1947:Mandolin, Rhythm PopModernGrooveAndy Ev16 075
RealDrums in style: PopModernGrooveSync16^1-a:Snare on 4, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

I think you've latched onto a clever and commercially viable theme for your songs! There's always interest in history and the documentaries that portray it. ESPECIALLY anything about the American civil war will be of interest to a lot of people.

This composition was good in all the usual ways... your mixing is always nailed, your vocals are proven on every song, and your concept is spot on!

The only thing that might keep this from being licensed to PBS for a documentary is that the style of the song is not authentic to the period. But as pure entertainment it works for me!


side note:
the first casualty of the war may have been related to me
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/history.htm

edit:
lyrics are usually secondary to me, and I focus mostly on the music. I just went back and looked at the lyrics, and I have to say they're very well written. The rhymes aren't forced, the points you make are all worth making and still make sense today. You're gifted in many ways. Good job!

Hi Robert,

let me quote Pat: "This composition was good in all the usual ways... your mixing is always nailed, your vocals are proven on every song, and you concept is spot on!"

Guenter

Pat,

Thanks for the kind remarks.


That's interesting about your ancestor. Here's his Wiki:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Marr


One of my ancestors (Great-great uncle) photographed a lot of the War (and, it was said, was Lincoln's favorite photographer)


http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/alexander-gardner.html

Thanks for listening Guenter.



Regards,


Bob

Solid in every way . . . icing on the cake was the wee bit of dixie at the end.

Later,

A BIG +1

Your timing is perfect as I just came back from a photo shoot vacation that included Antietam and Harpers Ferry!

Beautifully done. Love everything about it and the way you sang it too. Sweet touch at the end with the harmonica playing Dixie.

Danny,

Thanks for the nice words.


Mario,

Thanks. I've been a long-time CW buff myself.


Sundance,

Thanks for the kind remarks.



Regards,

Bob

Up to your usual high standard, Bob.

Nice lyrics - the sadness still comes through, even on this side of the pond.

ROG.

Bob,

I was going to copy the lines that impressed me... it would look like this...

{THE ENTIRE SONG}

That would be excessive, don't ya think?

floyd

Outstanding!!

I've done educational TV shows on the CW, written articles on it and written songs about it. I mention that only to reinforce how much I like your tune -- because with all our years of involvement in the CW we've heard a LOT of attempts at song writing using a theme like yours. This is one of the very few that quietly and eloquently rings true. The vocal, production, melody and the lyrics are all simply stellar.

Excellent writing - it comes off as effortless.

I like the understated arrangement as well.

Beautifully done. Could imagine Johnny Cash doing this one.

Richard

Bob,

I really enjoyed that, excellent in every way!
I keep hearing Johnny Cash ... Perfect song for him.

Greg

ROG,

Thanks. It was a sad event, and the after-effects still linger, even after all these years.


Floyd,

Thanks. (the check is in the mail).


Bud,

Thanks for the kind words. 620,000 men perished in that war, and it's important that people remember them. Thanks for your work in this endeavor.


David,

Thanks very much for the kind remarks.


Richard & Greg,

Thanks. I wish I could sing like Cash.


Regards,


Bob

Hi, Bob !

IMO this is a very touching
song indeed and makes one wonder
why people never learn before
it has to be done the hard way ?

Cheers
Daniel

Thanks for the nice comment Daniel.


I agree - war is insane, but inevitable, unfortunately.


Regards,

Bob

Hi Bob,

This one nearly slipped past me. I just want to echo everyone else's comments. This is a wonderful song. The music captures the mood of the lyrics incredibly well. You're a very talented singer-songwriter in my opinion.

Regards,
Noel

Thanks Noel.


Regards,


Bob